Thanks for the congratulatory comments, they're much appreciated. An improbable run through the loser's bracket starting with a 17 run open inning Saturday night against Rocky Mountain Thunder got us to Sunday knowing we would have to beat Double Play, Top Gun 55's, and the Old Dawgs just to get the task of trying to double dip a very good Tucson Bandits team.

We all want to go through the winner's bracket, but sometimes sitting around having to wait for your opponent can have a negative effect. And Dave, I also know that losing one of your big hitters between games was beneficial to us. Softball....crazy game.

SSUSA is pretty consistent in alternating St. George and Mesquite for this tournament, meaning that if you played in St. George last year (which the 60's did) then it's only logical that you'd be in Mesquite this year (which you are). I understand things can change, but as a rule they've been pretty damn consistent.

I know that this doesn't help you and your team at this point, although you could check hotels in St. George and still cancel your rooms in Mesquite...so long as you haven't prepaid for them. SSUSA also suggests booking rooms in both locations until assignments are released. Easier said than done, but now you know. Good luck to you and your team.

Is your "yes" response the only answer, or is it assuming that Dolfan anticipates playing both 50's and 55's next year? I was under the assumption that if Dolfan forgoes playing 50's to play 55's only, he could play Major and be classified as such.

It seems unfair that when moving to the next age group he has to carry the Major Plus tag, especially odd when his team the So Cal Vandals were one of those 50 Major teams bumped up without ever winning a major tourney.

I've seen many, mostly women's team take the shirts and have blanket/quilts out of them. The logo on the chest area of the shirt is cut out as a square and sewn onto and existing blank blanket/quilt patchwork style on both sides. There are companies that do this, but they can be pricey depending on size. Maybe you know someone who can do this for you. Just a thought.

First if all, your 2 year plan may be only a year away. I'm assuming that you'll be turning 49 during the 2015 calendar year. If that's the case, you can start playing 50's (in your location) as early as the Winter Nationals in November 2015. It's the roster qualifier for the 2016 season, so you just have to turn 50 during that year.

As far as getting ready, try to find senior leagues that allow the use of senior bats and similar balls. It certainly would help get you used to how hot the equipment is that we get to use. And as Bruce says, find some bp buddies. There's nothing better than getting the swings in.

What you're talking about us OBP (on-base percentage). Many teams do both BA and OBP (BB's as hits). It can provide insight to a players trends and habits. I tend to look a a lot of pitches, and therefore walk a fair amount. Can't score runs if you have no base runners. JMO.

* they went 1-1 in seeding games, losing to MBA Elite 27-26, and beating N.
State Screen Print 17-15
* in bracket games where they went undefeated, they beat Top Gun 26-17,
beat NSSP 16-12, beat Enviro-Vac 14-13, and then beat Enviro-Vac in the
championship game 15-13.

Sure, they went undefeated, but the fact is...they didn't blow teams away. The scores would indicate that the game were all close. The fact that they won the tourney doesn't make them Major Plus.

I play 55 Major, and our biggest competition won the first two ring tournies of the year, and finished third at the SSUSA/LVSSA Southwest Championships. They're a very good Major team, but certainly not Major Plus

My point is that aside from what SSUSA has already stated, winning a major tourney doesn't constitute an automatic bump in rating.

The Hawaii teams are always represented well at the LVSSA/SSUSA World Championships for two reasons...1) they like to compete, and 2) they love to gamble even more. LoL. HJust sayin'

IMO, AA teams for the most part started at AAA and were dropped down due to little or no success at the AAA level. It doesn't mean that they don't compete, they're just not well represented at a lot of Major tournies.

Truth is, the AAA and Major levels are the most participated divisions.

TwinMotors makes very valid case for reclassification based on a 5 year hiatus from Senior Softball participation. I understand the two year waiting period for reclassification is tied to continuous participation, but c'mon man!

A 5 year absence, 63 years of age, and age related injuries should be sufficient enough to warrant an SSUSA management decision in favor of TwinMotors.

I too suffer from sciatica (right side) with pain localized to the deep glute area. Occasionally, the pain radiates down the leg near the back of my knee, but very rarely.

Aside from the stretching, I lay on my right side, support my upper body with my forearm, put a softball under the piriformis muscle area and roll that area on the ball. It seems to be a trigger point area and does offer some pain relief.

I also carry a tennis ball in my car...long drives tend to aggravate the pain in the glute area. When that happens, I just put the tennis ball right on the glute area (yes, I sit on the ball) and roll it right on the nerve. Temporary relief for sure.

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